Flint police will get more help next month

The city of Flint will soon have more Michigan State Troopers working its streets

Steve Carmody/Michigan Radio

The Flint police department will soon get even more help patrolling its city’s streets.

26 Michigan state troopers currently assist Flint’s police officers. That number will expand next month, though the exact number is not yet known.

Flint could use the help. Recently the city has seen a spate of violent crime that left seven people dead, including two children, in just six days. Two suspects are in custody. Police are looking for two other suspects.

Police Chief Alvern Lock says his department has been making progress dealing with violent crime, but there is only so much his officers can do.

“There needs to be a change in the way people resolve their conflicts,” says Lock, adding, “Until people decide they have had enough, and decide they want to change the way they resolve their conflicts, we’re going to continue to have these things.”